oral debate structure

Preparation 15 minutes

AFFIRMATIVE
Statement of Position 3 minutes
Provision of Supporting Evidence 3 minutes
Clarification and Summation 2 minutes
Cross-Examination 6 minutes

NEGATIVE
Statement of Position 3 minutes
Provision of Supporting Evidence 3 minutes
Clarification and Summation 2 minute
Cross-Examination 6 minutes

AFFIRMATIVE Closing Statement 2 minute
NEGATIVE Closing Statement 2 minute

Evaluator’s Intercession 30 minutes
Questions directed to individuals on each side

Vote and explanation of position
Commentary on the performance of the debate

Open Discussion

HOW A DEBATE WORKS

• The class will be divided into three groups. One group will be assigned the affirmative position, one group will be assigned the negative position, and a third group will be assigned to be Evaluators. Groups will then be given time to prepare. The affirmative and negative groups will assign each of 6 roles required for the debate structure: 1) the Introducer, 2) the Supporter, 3) the Summarizer, 4) the Responder, 5) the Questioner, and 6) the Closer. During “cross-examination,” a member of the opposing team questions the team. One person can be assigned to answer, or the group can share responsibility for answering. Only two people can respond to each question. The person assigned to be the Questioner must prepare questions as the debate progresses.

• The "Evaluators" group plays a role rather like that of the journalists who moderate, question, and judge presidential debates. Various specific roles may be assigned to Evaluators, including liberal and conservative positions, science reporter, college newspaper reporter, local city reporter, Congressional staffer, public health official, FEMA official, etc.. While the other two groups prepare for the debate, Evaluators should prepare a list of questions that they expect to be answered by each side for their constituencies. If the questions are not addressed during each side’s presentation, the Evaluators should ask their questions after the closing statements.

• Two Evaluators will be assigned as Moderators, who are responsible for running and timing the debate.

• Following the debate, Evaluators will pose questions, alternating between sides. Following the question period, Evaluators will vote to determine the winning position. Evaluators can introduce themselves and articulate why they have been persuaded to support the position they voted for, describing what they considered to be the strongest and weakest aspects of each side's performance, indicating alternative ways each group could have pursued their arguments. The evaluation should include the following factors: 1) Depth of the analysis, 2) persuasiveness of assertions, 3) quality of support for assertions, 4) quality of rebuttals, and 5) quality of delivery. This vote is not a statement of personal values. Each evaluator should vote based on their assessment of how well each side argued their case, bearing in mind how each side would likely be heard by the person who’s role they are playing.

5) After the debate is evaluated, participants can step out of their assigned roles for an open discussion about personal beliefs and values.